Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Buildah VS Shell Notebook

Compare Buildah VS Shell Notebook and see what are their differences

Buildah logo Buildah

Buildah is a web-based OCI container tool that allows you to manage the wide range of images in your OCI container and helps you to build the image container from the scratch.

Shell Notebook logo Shell Notebook

MacOS Terminal, reimagined
  • Buildah Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-27
  • Shell Notebook Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-23

Buildah features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Buildah is a tool focused solely on building OCI and Docker-compatible containers, which makes it less resource-intensive compared to other container building solutions that include additional components like container runtimes.
  • Daemon-less
    Unlike Docker, Buildah does not require a running daemon, meaning it can be used in environments where a daemon is not desired or feasible, enhancing security and reducing footprint.
  • Flexibility
    Buildah provides flexibility by allowing precise control over container image creation, enabling advanced scenarios like building images from scratch, adding content at various stages, and using alternative base images.
  • Security
    Running without a daemon improves security by minimizing attack surfaces and permissions needed for building images, allowing for container creation and management by unprivileged users.
  • Integration with Podman
    Buildah integrates well with Podman, allowing users to manage containers and images without requiring additional integrations, as both are part of the same toolset for comprehensive container management.

Possible disadvantages of Buildah

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Users already familiar with Docker might find Buildah’s command-line interface and functionality to be different, necessitating a learning curve to effectively utilize its capabilities.
  • Less Mature Ecosystem
    Compared to Docker, Buildah has a smaller community and fewer integrations with third-party tools or cloud platforms, potentially limiting its use in complex or niche scenarios.
  • Lack of Windows Support
    As of now, Buildah primarily supports Linux platforms, which can be a limitation for developers using or targeting Windows environments.
  • Limited GUI Tools
    Buildah primarily operates through a command-line interface, with fewer graphical user interface options available, which might not appeal to users who prefer visual management tools.
  • Documentation Gaps
    Although improving, Buildah’s documentation can be less comprehensive and more challenging to navigate than Docker's, potentially making troubleshooting or advanced usage more difficult.

Shell Notebook features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Shell Notebook is accessible from any web browser, allowing users to work from different devices and locations without needing to install additional software.
  • Collaboration
    The platform offers collaboration features, such as sharing capabilities, which enable multiple users to work on the same document in real-time.
  • Integration
    It integrates with various cloud services and tools, which can enhance productivity and streamline workflows by consolidating multiple functions into one platform.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Shell Notebook provides a clean and intuitive user interface, making it easy for users at all levels to navigate and utilize its features effectively.

Possible disadvantages of Shell Notebook

  • Internet Dependency
    Accessing Shell Notebook requires a stable internet connection, which can be a limitation for users with unreliable or no internet access.
  • Limited Offline Features
    The platform may offer limited functionality when offline, which can hinder productivity if users need to work in areas without internet access.
  • Subscription Costs
    While some features may be available for free, advanced tools and functionalities might require a paid subscription, which can add to business or personal expenses.
  • Security Concerns
    Storing sensitive information on a cloud-based platform might raise security concerns for some users, especially if the platform does not offer robust data protection measures.

Buildah videos

How to Build a Container Image Using Buildah

Shell Notebook videos

No Shell Notebook videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Buildah and Shell Notebook)
Cloud Computing
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
41 41%
59% 59
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Buildah seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Buildah mentions (13)

  • Dockerfmt: A Dockerfile Formatter
    I suspect that the GP was really asking "why not use a different tool", like buildah , buildpacks , nix ,. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Top 8 Docker Alternatives to Consider in 2025
    Buildah specializes in building OCI-compliant container images, offering a more granular and secure approach to image creation compared to traditional Dockerfile builds. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • How to Create a CI/CD Pipeline with Docker
    Lockdown your Dockerized build environments --- Because privileged mode is insecure, you should restrict your CI/CD environments to known users and projects. If this isn't feasible, then instead of using Docker, you could try using a standalone image builder like Buildah to eliminate the risk. Alternatively, configuring rootless Docker-in-Docker can mitigate some --- but not all --- of the security concerns... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Ko: Easy Go Containers
    In my experience, not using docker to build docker images is a good idea. E.g. buildah[0] with chroot isolation can build images in a GitLab pipeline, where docker would fail. It can still use the same Dockerfile though. If you want to get rid of your Dockerfiles anyway, nix can also build docker images[1] with all the added benefits of nix (reproducibility, efficient building and caching, automatic layering,... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Understanding Docker Architecture: A Beginner's Guide to How Docker Works
    Buildah: This lightweight, open-source command-line tool for building and managing container images. It is an efficient alternative to Docker. With Buildah, you can build images in various ways, including using a Dockerfile, a podmanfile or by running commands in a container. Buildah is a flexible, secure and powerful tool for building container images. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
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Shell Notebook mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Shell Notebook yet. Tracking of Shell Notebook recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Buildah and Shell Notebook, you can also consider the following products

Podman - Simple debugging tool for pods and images

Fig - Fast, isolated development environments using Docker.

containerd - An industry-standard container runtime with an emphasis on simplicity, robustness and portability

Commands.dev - Commands.

Crane - Crane is a docker image builder to approach light-weight ML users who want to expand a container image with custom apt/conda/pip packages without writing any Dockerfile.

TermHere - “Open Terminal Here” shortcut for Finder